Veterans Day...looking past Halloween

First, I apologize if this entry seems so long ,and secondly it seems self promoting, but I'd like to share a personal experience I had last Memorial Day weekend.I work for Albertson's (a national grocery chain) and it is a tradition at my store to allow veterans to set up a table at each entrance to sell their poppy buddies to raise funds for the VFW on patriotic holidays.The gentleman who manned one of the the tables is a frequent customer of our store and reminds me much of my own father in his appearance and demeanor. As I had several opportunities during the day to stop by his table and see how he was doing, we made small chit chat. I told him my father served in World War II and in the Korean conflict. I told him we could never get him to talk much of his battle experiences, but he would always warm up when we asked of his poker experiences with war buddies or different social interactions with them. "I know exactly his reasons why too" was the reply. As the day wound down and it was time to fold up the tables this veteran went to get some food and personal items and then he came through my line to make payment. I totaled up his purchase and he pulled out his food stamp card a little embarrassed and entered the needed numbers to process the transaction. His purchase took his available funds down to zero and there was still a balance left which I informed him of. I could see immediately he was both embarrassed and troubled. He looked over the items to see which ones he should put back and told me he didn't have any other money for payment. I knew immediately it was close to the end of the month and his assistance funds were gone. This was Friday which left 4 more days in the month. It was also evident he had purchased the bare minimum needed to get him through the day...not the month. I reached into my pocket and said "Here, let me pay the difference for you. "No no, I can't have you doing that" came his reply."That's okay" I replied. "I do this once in awhile for my favorite customers." I was hoping he would let that suffice, but I could still see the hesitation in his face. The pride of a soldier who had been through much worse than this without any help."You can pay me back your next time in if you feel you must" I offered to him in the hopes of easing his angst of the moment."Okay, we'll do that" he said and I could see a little slumping of his shoulders at being less than a man in having to let someone else pay for his groceries. I told him he reminded me much of my own father, a veteran who had passed away last December, as I bagged up his groceries. He offered his condolences and I assured him our biggest concern was with my mother now that Dad had passed on. He flashed a sad smile and informed me his wife had died recently too, for which I offered my condolences. He also assured me his wife was in a better place as she had suffered greatly. For some reason I couldn't help myself. I pulled out my small wad of cash and offered him a $10 bill. He looked at me much confused and almost insulted. He could see I had chosen a $10 when I had some $20's available. I had quickly put him in my Dad's shoes. Twenty would be more than he would take. Five was less than he needed, there were 4 more days left in the month. It might just be enough.He looked around quickly perhaps as if wondering if this was a gag. Perhaps wondering who would see, I'm not sure. Then I said something to him I'm sure he already had heard."Peter Jennings said yours is the greatest generation that has ever lived. I owe you more than this. With that being said this noble man took the $10 and a tear started falling down his face which made me suddenly uncomfortable. I held out my hand for him to shake. He looked at me again with a questioning look on his face and I felt something more needed to be said."Thank you for being my father for the day" I said. Why I said those words I have no idea, but he took my hand in a strong grip and we both stood a little taller."God bless you boy" was about all he could choke out of his mouth. It sounded so strange to me as I am a gray haired man in my 50's."He has blessed me much, this is my way of trying to pay him back" was my reply.We both smiled at each other broadly, he turned and walked out of the store with an upright gait of a man who maybe was just a little more hopeful of the generation he had risked his life to preserve freedom for.This good man came back in again this last week to make arrangements to set up a table again for Veteran's Day poppy buddy selling.Please remember our beloved veterans as this special day arrives next month. I know through the passing of my father there are fewer and fewer of these great men at the end of each day.....